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6 Hacks for Using Curlformers

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6 Hacks for Using Curlformers
By NaturallyCurly · Updated October 13, 2015
We know how easy it can be to put your hair into the same style every day. You know how to do it, you know that it works, and it’s almost impossible to screw it up. But when we poll our community for their favorite thing about their curls? The top answer is: versatility! You love being able to wear your hair in any way you please, especially when it’s heat free. So if you have been wearing your wash and go on repeat, or the high top knot is starting to lose its appeal, try familiarizing yourself with a few new hairstyles or styling tools.

We like Curlformers because they’re a heatless way to change your curl pattern for a few days. And when you wash your hair you know your curls will return right back to your natural curls without any risk of heat damage. We know learning a new tool can be intimidating, but these are so simple to use – on any curl pattern. Watch for the hacks Nikki, Evelyn and Cristina have figured out for getting your best Curlformers results.

1. Make sure your hair is completely detangled first

In order to have your quickest and easiest Curlformers experience, it is extremely important that you detangle your hair first. This will make the Curlformer glide over your curls much more smoothly, and can also help elongate your curls for your best results. Detangle how you normally would, whether it’s before or during your shower with a slippery conditioner in your hair. If your hair is already dry, then spritz it with water in a spray bottle to dampen it and detangle with your fingers, a wide tooth comb, or a brush. Nikki used the Curlformers Delux Brush to remove her tangles.

2. Spot treat heat damaged hair with Curlformers

You may have seen tutorials where Curlformers are used on all of the hair, but that does not have to be the case. Cristina has hair around her face that refuses to curl, which is likely due to heat damage or the manipulation of pulling her hair back frequently. She uses a couple of Spiral Curlformers on her dry hair to spot treat those curls without using any heat (which can further damage her hair”>. To do this, simply spray with water or apply a light styler to the sections you want to curl, then put one or two Curlformers just in the spots that need help curling. You can leave them in while you put on makeup and get dressed for the day, then remove them and you have curls that match the rest of your head. You can also use this trick when you wake up in the morning and have a few curls that look misshapen or frizzy.

3. What to do if your Curlformer gets stuck

If the wand gets stuck as you’re pulling your hair through the Curlformer, do not pull and force it through. Simply push the wand back up so that you can start over with that curl. It only takes a second, and is so simple to do.

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4. Make sure your hair is completely dry before removing

This is one of the most important tips, do not skip this one! If you remove Curlformers (or any roller set”> before your hair is 100% dry, your hair will likely frizz and lose the curl definition that you have worked so hard to achieve. If you do not have the patience to wait until it is dry, or if you have highly porous hair that takes a long time to dry, use a hood attachment for your blowdryer that will speed up the process. Set your blowdryer to the cool setting to avoid heat.

5. How to remove a Curlformer

You detangled your hair, put in your Curlformers, and waited until they were completely dry. Now what? Removing them is actually pretty simple, especially if you know this trick. The easiest way is to stretch the Curlformer out using your fingers, then pinch the end near your roots and the one at your ends to open it up, then pull. Your hair will easily slide out without any pressure on your hair or scalp. You can see Nikki removing an Extra Wide Curlformers from her hair to create large barrel curls.

6. How to preserve your curls for 2nd day hair

If you want to make your style last for 2nd, 3rd and 4th day hair, the best way to preserve it is by sleeping with your hair in a pineapple. This will prevent you from messing up your curls as you lay on them to sleep. To pineapple, simply pull all of your hair on top of your head and secure it very loosely with a scrunchy or hair tie. This will not only keep your hair from rubbing on your pillow, it will also prevent you from creating a dent in your hair where the hair tie was. If your hair is too short to reach up into a pineapple, try the multi-pineapple by pulling your hair into several loose hair ties instead of just one.

[prodmod]

This post is sponsored by Curlformers.

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Home • Curl Products • Ingredients

Decode Curly Hair Product Labels Like a Pro

Learn how to read hair product labels like a pro.
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Decode Curly Hair Product Labels Like a Pro
Beautician reading beauty product label
By Lindsay Wilson · Updated December 26, 2024

You finally decided to start your healthy curly hair journey with the Curly Girl Method. “Embrace my curls” or “Curly and proud,” you repeat to yourself. A few website clicks later, and you find products that are labeled “Sulfate and Silicone Free“. You take the plunge and purchase them without checking the ingredients because you trust the labels. Now you have $70 worth of hair product on its way. Recommendations continue to pop up on your social media feed, and $300 later, you still haven’t found what works for YOUR HAIR!

“You’ll just have to try it and see if it works for you!” or “This is all about trial and error!” others would gently say.

I am here to tell you that there is another way to choose your products instead of trying everything that is on the market. Understanding how to read ingredient lists has transformed my curly hair journey without decimating my bank balance!

“Sulfate-free” doesn’t always mean Sulfate-Free

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In the very early stages of my journey with the Curly Girl Method, I made these mistakes several times. A shampoo would have the label “Sulfate Free” at the front, and then later, I would have a hard time dealing with dryness and would finally see a Sulfate listed in the ingredients. From my experience over time, I came to understand that when advertisers label “Sulfate Free” at the very front, they are referring to one of the harshest Sulfates: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. However, this does not mean that the product is entirely free of Sulfates. On several occasions, I have found other drying Sulfates in the list, despite the “Sulfate Free” label.

Curly Girl-friendly ingredients to look for

Chemical ingredients in a hair gel

In the Curly Girl Method, we avoid harsh Sulfates and drying Alcohols (they dehydrate the hair), Silicones, Waxes, and Mineral Oils (they build up). As replacements, we look for ingredients that are mild, moisturizing, and soluble for curly hair in order to minimize dryness and foster better moisture retention.

If you are following the Curly Girl Method like me, look for cleansers that are mild for curls, such as:

  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine
  • Coco Betaine
  • Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
  • Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
  • Sodium Cocoamphoacetate or Sodium Lauroamphoacetate

Devacurl Low Poo Original , Olaplex NO. 3 and AG Care Balance Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo because I co-wash, and these two also contain mild cleansers.

Not all alcohols are bad for curls. There are moisturizing alcohols in ingredient lists that are good for hair. Some examples are:

  • Lauryl alcohol
  • Cetyl alcohol
  • Myristyl alcohol
  • Stearyl alcohol
  • Cetearyl alcohol
  • Behenyl alcohol

You can read more about the differences in alcohols here.

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Slip is very helpful for detangling curls because it decreases friction. Silicones are used in traditional mainstream products to add slip and shine. The issue with Silicones is that they don’t penetrate the hair shaft to make it better and they also build up.

They are removable with Sulfates, but in turn, the frequent use of Sulfates dehydrates the hair. It becomes a vicious cycle. Soluble ingredients for lubrication, on the other hand, make the hair better over time. They also add shine and flexibility to curly hair. If you follow the Curly Girl Method like me, you can replace Silicones with soluble ingredients that are located near the top of the list, such as:

  • Behentrimonium Methosulfate
  • Behentrimonium Chloride
  • Dicetyldimonium Chloride
  • Distearyldimonium Chloride
  • Polyquaternium 55
  • Cetrimonium Bromide

I came to learn this helpful information from Wendy (a scientist) on the Hair Science-y Blog and Tonya Mckay here on NaturallyCurly.

Ingredient amounts in products

Decode Curly Hair Product Labels Like a Pro

The Natural Haven Bloom Blog has helped me to understand the importance of ingredient concentrations in products. For example, just because a product is advertised with an “Argan Oil” label doesn’t mean that this product has high amounts of this oil. When ingredients are listed, they appear in descending order, calculated by either mass or volume.

As a result, when we read lists, we should always focus on the first five ingredients because they are the main ingredients (in higher amounts). A product that is labeled “Argan Oil” may well have some Argan oil included in the list, but the amount should be the most important thing to look for. If Argan oil is included near the end of the list, the amount is very small and insignificant.

Allergic reactions to products

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If you have an allergy to a specific ingredient, relying only on front labels is likely to cause problems. Here I am sharing four steps that you can take to safeguard yourself:

  1. Read ingredient lists very carefully;
  2. Try a single new product at a time. This is helpful because if something unusual happens, you will know that the only difference in your routine is the brand-new product;
  3. Patch test the product on your skin before using it for the first time, even if you can’t spot any ingredients that are harmful to you: Apply a small amount of the product on a patch of skin that is located on the inner, lower arm. Rub it in and allow it to dry. Avoid washing the area for at least 24 hours and then watch for signs of a reaction;
  4. Observe closely how your scalp reacts after product application, even if the product has passed the first three steps above. If you notice a burning sensation, itching, redness, lumps or anything unusual on your scalp, you will know that this product isn’t suitable for you.
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Always remember: If you happen to have a serious allergic reaction to a product, please seek medical attention immediately.

In summary, if you are looking for a product that is healthy for curls, focus on mild cleansers that won’t dehydrate your hair. Choose conditioners and styling products that have soluble ingredients for slip and elasticity. Reading ingredient lists is a good habit when caring for your curls and overall health. It also saves money and time. The more you practice, the easier it becomes.

Do you use the curly girl method when using products? Learn more about ingredients from Breaking New Ground: The Ingredients Behind The First Black Haircare Brands.

OUR EDITORS INDEPENDENTLY SELECT ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ON NATURALLYCURLY. HOWEVER, WE MAY EARN AN AFFILIATE COMMISSION WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING THROUGH OUR RETAIL LINKS.

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